Latest news with #IslamicCentre
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
School closed due to dispute over control of Islamic cultural centre in Dublin, court hears
A school at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, Dublin, has closed as part of a dispute over control of the centre's operations, the High Court heard. Mr Justice Brian Cregan was also told Clonskeagh is the primary place for holding a major annual Muslim festival, Eid al-Adha, which falls on Friday, but is now closed. The mosque at the centre had also closed, the court previously heard. The dispute arises out of the alleged unlawful appointment of new directors to the centre's operating company, the Al Maktoum Foundation CLG. Dr Abdel Basset Elsayed, a Co Meath-based medical consultant, says he has been a director of the foundation company since 2012. He claims the purported appointments of four new directors to the board are invalid and not in accordance with the company's constitution. READ MORE He sought orders from the court requiring the Companies Registration Office to rectify its register by removing the allegedly unlawfully appointed members and restraining the new directors from performing any duties or representing themselves as directors of the company. Barrister Niall Ó hUiginn, for the new directors, who are notice parties in the case, on Wednesday said his clients dispute the claims and contend Dr Elsayed has no legal standing to bring the case as he has been removed as a director. Counsel said Dr Elsayed was purporting to give directions on behalf of the Al Maktoum Foundation. His clients will say Dr Elsayed's removal from his directorship was in accordance with the company's constitution. [ Dublin Islamic cultural centre temporarily closed after gardaí called to altercation Opens in new window ] Counsel said he did not wish to get into the merits of the case at this stage as his side needed time to put in a replying affidavit to Dr Elsayed's claims. Barrister Joseph Sallabi, who told the court he has a contract as in-house counsel with the Al Maktoum Foundation, objected to a three-week adjournment. His side argue a corporate body in Dubai is appointing the directors and they are acting for the company, counsel said. There were 27 teachers in the Clonskeagh school who had collectively resigned and the school has closed. Mr Ó hUiginn objected to Mr Sallabi making claims that had not been put on affidavit and were not part of any orders sought. Mr Justice Cregan told Mr Sallabi he would have to put his new claims on affidavit, and that he would also give the notice parties time to put their position on affidavit. It was an 'unfortunate situation', he said, and Mr Sallabi, if he wanted the school and mosque to be reopened, would have to bring a separate application in that respect. He adjourned the matter to later this month.
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Islamic centre rebuked over Iran-linked ‘pro-terror' video
An Islamic centre branded the 'nerve centre' for Iran in the UK has been reprimanded by the Charity Commission after posting a 'pro-terror video' and clips calling for Israel's destruction. The Islamic Centre of England (ICE) has been issued with a formal order by the commission compelling its trustees to curb its online activity and future speakers. The commission launched a statutory investigation into ICE in 2023 after allegations that it was the London office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In 2020, the centre hosted a vigil for Qassim Soleimani, the head of the Guard, who had been killed in a drone strike. Seyed Hashem Moosavi, ICE's director, issued a statement on its website praising Soleimani as a 'great martyr'. A commission statement said it had issued the centre with a 'formal order under section 84 of the Charities Act, compelling the trustees to provide rigorous oversight of future speakers and online activity by the charity, among other actions'. The section 84 direction gives the commission additional powers to intervene during an inquiry where there is suspected misconduct or mismanagement. The move comes as Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, last week announced plans for new powers to proscribe the IRGC. Under the proposal, anyone helping or benefiting from a banned state intelligence agency will now face up to 14 years in jail. On Monday, David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, summoned the Iranian ambassador to be 'held accountable' after three Iranian asylum seekers were charged last Saturday with spying in the UK. Earlier this month, five Iranian men were arrested in connection with a suspected plot to mount a terror attack on the Israeli embassy in London. The Charity Commission says its action has been taken because of ICE's 'recent failure' to fully comply with directions set by Emma Moody, the interim manager appointed as part of its investigation. 'The commission considers these, and a range of other past breaches, mismanagement and misconduct in the administration of the charity. The trustees currently dispute some of these legal findings,' the regulator said. The commission said it would continue to monitor the centre's invited speakers, religious services and public-facing content. Former speakers have included Syeda Umme Farwa, a charity boss who was described by an Iranian media outlet as a 'jihadi lioness' and was awarded a prize by Ebrahim Raisi, the former Iranian president known as the 'Butcher of Tehran'. The commission said in a statement that the ICE trustees 'are instructed to ensure that all religious services, speakers and events further the objects of the charity and are in its best interests'. Despite repeated warnings, the Islamic Centre has continued to platform controversial figures. Earlier this year, the Jewish Chronicle revealed that the charity's YouTube channel still hosted videos from 2020 in which Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of Iran, advocated 'multiple intifadas' to remove the 'cancerous tumour' of Israel. Other clips accused the US and its allies of manufacturing Islamic State and enslaving the world. Some of these have since been removed. David Holdsworth, the chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: 'The law requires, and the public expect, charities to operate exclusively for the public benefit... when a charity fails to operate in line with its legal duties we will step in to take action. 'We now expect the trustees to take the required action directed by the commission and will not hesitate to use further legal powers should that be necessary. 'The commission's statutory inquiry is ongoing. It is the commission's practice to publish a report setting out its findings, regulatory actions and conclusions once an inquiry has concluded.' 'They need to shut it down' The charity was, however, urged to go further. Col Richard Kemp, a former head of counter-terrorism in Afghanistan, said: 'This is merely a slap on the wrist. The commission needs to take decisive action now and shut it down. 'Iran and its allies pose a direct threat to Britain. The response so far has been to try and sweep it under the carpet. 'The threat we face from Iran is deadly serious. It is of the utmost importance that firm action is taken wherever we can. This is the opposite. It needs closing down now.' Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the charity commission was 'dragging its heels' on holding the ICE to account as its inquiry into the centre still had not concluded after more than two years. 'This isn't the first time the Charity Commission has buried its head in the sand on these issues,' he said. A spokesman for the ICE previously said the centre was a 'purely religious and cultural organisation, which provides various services to the local communities'. The spokesman added: 'It is an independent charity regulated by British law, which is totally funded by the local beneficiaries. 'The majority of the trustees, donors, and attendees are British citizens. Indeed, this charity is nothing to do with politics, while we strongly believe that the politically motivated lobbies are trying to drag the charity into their political disputes.' An Islamic Centre of England spokesman pointed to a statement on the discharge of an interim manager which said this was an 'important milestone' in its 'governance journey'. The statement said: 'The centre must ensure that it continues to deliver its religious preachings and observes its spiritual doctrines, and meets the requirements of our beneficiaries, while also ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. 'The centre cannot be insulated from world events, however, it is committed to maintaining its independence from political interference, and delivering its religious and educational charitable purposes. 'The centre plays a pivotal role in ensuring we operate in a way which respects all faiths, and where we allow our own faith to continue to be used for good, peacefully and without harm.' Commission must take meaningful action against those undermining British values By Chris Philp Britain faces a growing and dangerous threat from the Iranian regime. It funds terror across the Middle East and beyond – arming Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, enabling Shi'a militias in Iraq and Syria, and is providing deadly drones to Putin's forces in Ukraine. The tentacles of the Iranian state stretch out to our very own soil here in the United Kingdom. Earlier this month, three Iranian asylum seekers were charged with spying for Tehran and plotting to inflict 'serious violence' on UK-based journalists working for Iran International, a dissident media outlet. It came just days after another Iranian asylum seeker was one of five arrested over a plot to attack the Israeli embassy. This is a stark illustration of how malign foreign actors are exploiting our asylum system to further their own agenda. But it is only part of a broader pattern of Iranian aggression. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is behind a sustained campaign of cyber attacks, disinformation, and intimidation of Iranian dissidents on our streets. The Labour Government said they would proscribe this group. Labour have now been in office for nearly a year, so why have they not yet done what they said? And there is growing evidence of potentially dangerous Iran-linked influence within UK charities and so-called community organisations. Yet the Charity Commission is dragging its heels on taking meaningful action when it comes to taking on organisations that try to undermine British values and sow division. Take their investigation into the Islamic Centre for England, which opened after a director claimed that those protesting against the Iranian regime were 'soldiers of Satan' – it still hasn't been concluded after more than two years. This isn't the first time the Charity Commission has buried its head in the sand on these issues. The Islamic Human Rights Commission Trust has been under an ongoing investigation for several years, despite being run by self-declared Islamist revolutionaries closely aligned to Iran who say that the West is 'the enemy' and Britain a 'Stasi state'. And last year, the Dar Alhekma Trust and its sister charity, the Abrar Islamic Foundation, based near Regent's Park, were placed under police investigation after one of their trustees allegedly praised the former IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani as a 'hero'. The commission has bizarrely paused its review while the charities deny any wrongdoing. This is not good enough. The commission must be more proactive. The public deserves to know why groups with apparent links to terrorist sympathisers continue to operate freely under the banner of charity. Its job is not simply to wait for criminal prosecutions – it is to protect the integrity of the charitable sector from exploitation by extremists and foreign regimes. It's time they started acting like it. And it's time for the Labour Government to get serious too. The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, announced by the previous Conservative government, has been implemented which is a welcome first step. However, we need real enforcement, real transparency, and real consequences for those who break our laws or abuse our hospitality. Small boat crossings have increased by almost 30 per cent under Labour – 2025 is the worst year ever for such crossings. Labour voted against our amendment to deport all illegal migrants. It is shameful that the Government is not taking the action needed on this issue. This is not just about illegal immigration, it is about our national security. Action against Iran also means shutting down any UK-based charities found to be linked to hostile states or extremist causes. It means denying visas to Iranian regime officials and suspected collaborators. It means expelling diplomats involved in threats, intimidation or espionage. And it means providing meaningful protection to journalists and dissidents targeted by Tehran. We cannot afford to be complacent. Britain must not be a safe haven for the proxies of a state that funds terror, murders dissidentsand seeks to undermine the very freedoms we cherish. The Conservative Party has always stood for the security of this nation. We will not be silent while this government drags its feet.
Sunday World
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Islamic Cultural Centre in Dublin was shut over fears of ‘forced takeover'
The Islamic Centre is currently at the centre of a bitter dispute between the board of the Al Maktoum Foundation and a group of prominent officials in the centre and their supporters Footage of the incident at the Islamic Cultural Centre Ireland (ICCI) last Saturday The Islamic Centre in Clonskeagh was closed amid fears of 'potential attempts to breach the Centre's gates and forcibly take control of the premises,' it has been stated. In a statement issued on the Centre's website, its newly appointed Board of Directors described the closure as 'a preventive measure to ensure the safety and security of the property, staff, children and members of the public.' The Centre remained closed on Saturday. Locals say there has been an increased garda and security presence visible there in the past number of days. The Islamic Centre is currently at the centre of a bitter dispute between the board of the Al Maktoum Foundation and a group of prominent officials in the centre and their supporters. The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, Dublin The Al Maktoum Foundation provides about €2.5 million a year for the running of the Centre. It recently queried a number of matters relating to the financial running of the centre. Zahid Jamil, a Dubai-based lawyer and a member of the foundation's board, was sent to Ireland this week to examine the finances, along with an auditor. 'The board is concerned about the financial situation and, as a result, an auditor has been officially appointed,' Mr Jamil was quoted as telling The Irish Times. Some of the allegations relate to the administration of a Quranic school on the grounds of the centre. In the statement issued on the ICCI's website, the board said: 'On Saturday, 19 April, the ICCI Board had scheduled a closed-door meeting specifically for the parents of children enrolled at the Quranic School to discuss school-related matters. Footage of the incident last Saturday 'However, attempts were made to disrupt the meeting and transform it into an open community gathering at an incorrect venue. 'A formal clarification had also been issued on the morning of Saturday, 19 April, confirming that the meeting was with the parents of students enrolled at the Quranic School. 'Despite this, there was a coordinated effort to instigate chaos, intimidate and harass parents, and obstruct their entry to the scheduled meeting, which also led to physical assault on a staff and the Board. 'This resulted in a heightened security situation, creating an unsafe environment for our Board Member, staff, parents, the general public, and young people in attendance. 'Following this incident—and in light of credible information received by the Board regarding planned protests, including potential attempts to breach the Centre's gates and forcibly take control of the premises—the Board determined that maintaining security would be impossible if the Centre remained open. 'The Centre remains concerned about ongoing safety risks, particularly given reports that further protests may be organized with the intent to incite individuals to breach the gates and forcibly occupy ICCI premises. 'We trust the Gardaí will continue to ensure the protection of the Centre during this time. 'The newly appointed Board, having recently taken charge, has also raised serious concerns regarding financial irregularities and governance failures at the ICCI. 'An internal review was underway, and an internal auditor had been appointed to assist with this process. 'As part of this effort, the management requested financial records and other relevant documents from the Principal and Deputy Principal of the Quranic School. 'However, they refused to comply, unlawfully withheld ICCI property, and removed sensitive records without authorization.' In the wake of the centre, a complaint has been made to the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) alleging that the foundation's board was accessing details of members of the centre and sending them to the United Arab Emirates. The new board of the ICCI has however denied this allegation. 'Assertions circulating that any foreign party has made a request for any data are completely false and are categorically denied,' the statement said. 'No such request has been received, nor has any action been taken in this regard. 'These statements are defamatory and baseless. The Centre reiterates that rumours of pressure from abroad or any external actors/parties are false and without foundation. 'The ICCI will remain closed as it undertakes a full review of its security posture. 'In the meantime, the Board is also conducting a comprehensive audit to address and remedy the legal, financial, and governance issues it has inherited. 'These reforms will ultimately enhance the Centre's ability to fulfil its mission. 'Looking ahead, the ICCI intends to welcome a wide range of new proposals and initiatives that support deeper integration into Irish society and foster stronger collaboration with the institutions and diverse communities of the Irish state.'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Pope stood for peace, justice and compassion'
York Mosque and Islamic Centre has praised Pope Francis for his commitment to "peace, justice and compassion". It was announced on Easter Monday that the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church had died aged 88. The Vatican said Francis died following a stroke, less than 24 hours after appearing before thousands of worshippers in St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. York Mosque said it "extends its sincere condolences to [its] Christian neighbours and communities around the world". Latest updates as world reacts to death of Pope Francis The mosque said: "We recognise his consistent advocacy for peace, justice and compassion. "His efforts to promote mutual understanding and human dignity serve as a reminder of the shared values that unite us. "We pray that his legacy continues to inspire efforts towards harmony, empathy, and hope across all faiths and communities." Pope Francis had been ill for some time and was admitted to hospital on 14 February where he was treated for pneumonia. The Vatican confirmed the pontiff died at 07:35 local time (06:35 BST) on Monday. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Yorkshire reflects on the death of Pope Francis Vatican announces death of Pope Francis aged 88 What next after the death of Pope Francis?
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Pope stood for 'peace, justice and compassion', says York Mosque
York Mosque and Islamic Centre has praised Pope Francis for his commitment to "peace, justice and compassion".It was announced on Easter Monday that the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church had died aged Vatican said Francis died following a stroke, less than 24 hours after appearing before thousands of worshippers in St Peter's Square on Easter Mosque said it "extends its sincere condolences to [its] Christian neighbours and communities around the world". Latest updates as world reacts to death of Pope Francis The mosque said: "We recognise his consistent advocacy for peace, justice and compassion."His efforts to promote mutual understanding and human dignity serve as a reminder of the shared values that unite us."We pray that his legacy continues to inspire efforts towards harmony, empathy, and hope across all faiths and communities." Pope Francis had been ill for some time and was admitted to hospital on 14 February where he was treated for Vatican confirmed the pontiff died at 07:35 local time (06:35 BST) on Monday. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
